skip to main content

Jacob's Ladder question

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I bought a small Jacob's Ladder plant....maybe 2-3 months ago. Potted it in a larger pot.

I did see a few small flowers at one point but...then the plant seemed to get a little 'stagnant'...wasn't seeing much in the way of overall growth...or more flowers... I see some small buds but they've been that way for a while now...

In addition, the plant has two new stems with leaves that are noticeably much larger in size (in center of photo and at right side of photo), than the rest of the plant's leaves.

Any ideas what may be going on?

Thanks!

hmmmm...not sure what's going on...I'm trying to attach photo but 'nothing' happens...it simply doesn't get attached....no error message either.... I've attached photos successfully before, so the site must have a temporary bug...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Lynn Nevins
Original Author
7 years ago
....still can't upload pix for some reason, so here it is on my FB page.... Thanks.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157184421755294&set=pb.751595293.-2207520000.1466451250.&type=3&theater
wisconsitom
7 years ago
Lynn, is there any specific reason why this plant is being held in a pot? Would likely do much better in the ground.
Related Discussions
Jacob's Ladder
Q
Comments (11)
Mine looks like Kevin's, just not that large a clump. I also had a white flowering one but I think I weeded it out. They might not be long lived but they reseed readily, so make sure you know what the seedlings look like so you don't get rid of them all.
...See More
Blue Pearl Jacobs Ladder
Q
Comments (4)
i learned more thru benign neglect.. .. than i ever did.. thru retentive application of science.. lol ... i swear .. ive killed more stuff with too much love.. than i ever did.. by just letting them do their own thing ... ken
...See More
deadhead Jacob's Ladder for continual flowers?
Q
Comments (11)
if you want to find out if something is a seedpod.. dissect it and look for a developing seed ... if it is a aggressive reseeder ... then you deadhead unless you want A LOT more next year ... these 2 rules really arent plant specific ... but whether it will reflush bloom would be ... i am surprised the pic is jacobs ladder .. can anyone give a full latin name so i can look it up ... thx .. ken
...See More
Jacob's Ladder
Q
Comments (13)
Interesting, dbarron. Re longevity; there are various comments on-line about relatively short longevity for Jacob's ladder, at least in some growing environments (eg. Gardenweb below). Obviously the actual species and especially whether it's a cultivar is relevant, as well as the precise growing conditions (even within the same garden). That dbarron's plant had been moved between gardens suggests tolerance to at least some differences in precise growing conditions. But I have also seen greater longevity for a few individuals of the same perennial species or cultivar; most recently with a Trollius cultivar. Another factor might be digging the plant up and replanting it. Even from experience, many garden perennials do better when this is done periodically with upgraded soil. One other point; a generalization: perennials that are (can be) prolific reseeders (as with some Jacob's ladder) tend to be short lived. [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/polemonium-caeruleum-need-to-rethink-this-one-dsvw-vd~1640699[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/polemonium-caeruleum-need-to-rethink-this-one-dsvw-vd~1640699)
...See More
Lynn Nevins
Original Author
7 years ago
In answer to your question, I only have a balcony on which to do my gardening.... ;-) I live in NYC.
WoodsTea 6a MO
7 years ago
I wonder if the newer, larger leaves are a result of different conditions on your balcony than where the plant was before. Fertilizer, more light, etc.

Any possibility that there are two different plants there? I find this happens sometimes with plants I buy from nurseries. It's a little hard to tell without higher resolution photos of the plant. Do the stems look similar? Is the leaf venation similar?

What are the conditions like on your balcony? Does it get much sun, and how hot would you say it gets in the afternoons?
wisconsitom
7 years ago
Got it. Some species have juvenile foliage and then, mature foliage as the plant grows. I'm not sufficiently well-versed on Polemonium to know whether this is such a case. But it's out there.
dstenerson
7 years ago
I have overwintered young Jacob'Ladders in pots when I ran out of time to prepare a area for planting, and have often seen the larger leaves on new growth like that. They do bloom in early spring, and I have never seen any re-bloom later in the season. Fortunately, the seed-heads are also quite attractive, as is the foliage of course. Also, they seem to overwinter easily, I rarely lose any, so maybe it will be happy enough growing in a pot. It's a shame you don't have a place to plant them so it looks like mine, though!

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Questions to Ask When Planning a Kitchen Pantry

By Susan Redman

Avoid blunders and get the storage space and layout you need by asking these questions before you begin

LIGHTING 5 Questions to Ask for the Best Room Lighting

By Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Get your overhead, task and accent lighting right for decorative beauty, less eyestrain and a focus exactly where you want

MOVING Hiring a Home Inspector? Ask These 10 Questions

By Christine Tusher

How to make sure the pro who performs your home inspection is properly qualified and insured, so you can protect your big investment

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Polemonium Reptans Paints Woodlands Blue in Spring

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant Jacob’s ladder in eastern U.S. woodland gardens for its bright blue flowers and delicate foliage

INDUSTRIAL STYLE Kitchen of the Week: Style Trumps Ease in a San Francisco Loft

By Mitchell Parker

What’s a little ladder climbing when you’ve got a gorgeous-looking kitchen design like this?

ORGANIZING 10 Clever Ways to Maximize Space

By Becky Harris

Make More Room by Stacking Beds, Ditching Nightstands and Climbing Ladders

KITCHEN CABINETS Cabinets 101: How to Work With Cabinet Designers and Cabinetmakers

By Matt Clawson

Understand your vision and ask the right questions to get your dream cabinets

MOST POPULAR 10 Things to Ask Your Contractor Before You Start Your Project

By Ventana Construction LLC

Ask these questions before signing with a contractor for better communication and fewer surprises along the way

COFFEE WITH AN ARCHITECT A Few Things I Would Like to Ask Frank Lloyd Wright

By Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

It could take a lifetime to understand Frank Lloyd Wright's work — less if we had answers to a few simple questions

TREE HOUSES Tour a Fantastical Tree House for Kids and Adults Too

By Mitchell Parker

For an architect and a master woodworker, a magical tree house answers the question, ‘What would you do if you could do anything?’

Sponsored